Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Hello! My name is Raia, and I blog over at Raia’s Recipes where I share all my allergy-free creations that pass the inspection of my four crazy kiddos. :)

I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful
spring is here! Along with the fresh blooms, park dates, and warm
weather comes one of my favorite times of year: smoothie time! So when
Dianna invited me to post to her “Spring Fling” event, I knew
immediately what I was going to share. :)

With
four kids in the house, I try to make my smoothies something that will
not only taste good, but also provide much needed nutrients for their
little growing bodies. These two “Super Smoothies” fill both those
roles! Let’s unpack some of the goodness...

Beginning with the probiotic benefits of yogurt, I like to add water kefir to get some prebiotic in as well. Never heard of kefir? It’s an old school Russian drink made by fermenting kefir grains (don’t worry - they’re not actual grain) in either milk or water. You can learn how to make it over on my site. It’s super easy and contains even more helpful bacteria than yogurt!

On top of these two amazing ingredients I like to add bunches of fresh fruits
and veggies. Avocado gives the smoothies their luscious thickness,
while providing healthy fat and loads of potassium, and banana adds a
good dose of fiber and manganese (good for healthy bones, liver, and
pancreas). For a super-D-dooper (as my 7-year old says) dose of vitamins
A, K, and folate, throw in some spinach! Or, for a sweeter treat, add
in a little raw cocoa powder and honey.

Now, let’s make some smoothies!

Green Super Smoothie

1 c. plain yogurt

1 c. kefir

1 banana

1 avocado

2 large handfuls spinach

1 apple

1 t. vanilla (optional)

1 c. ice

Chocolate Super Smoothie

1 c. yogurt

1 c. kefir

2 bananas

1 avocado

2 T. cocoa powder

1-2 T. honey

1 t. vanilla (optional)

1/4 t. salt

1 c. ice

Both versions are simple to make, just puree everything in a blender and enjoy!